Nightmares( Halloween short story)

Sleep Tight

The last sliver of light shrunk away as my mom shut the door. I'd been having nightmares, transforming my basic teen girl bedroom into hell.
    In them, there was this.......
Shadow.
     It would stand, watching me with bulbous eyes that occasionally glinted hungrily.
    As I drifted off I wondered if maybe I'd escape from the dreams.
     But before I could fully sleep, I heard an eerie sound.
     The sharp tang of glass sent shivers down my arms.
      I tried to shake it off, rolled over and pulled up the blanket.
      But moments later the muffled sound of taps echoed through my very bones.
      I sat up. If it was a nightmare I would just wake up. If it wasn't......
     It was probably a dream.
I quietly made my way to the window.
      The tapping stopped.
I peeked out the curtains.
     I didn't see anything.
I looked around.
       I stumbled back and barely silenced a shriek.
      Eyes stared back at me.
As the eyes were joined by a face my heart rate began to regulate.
      I slid open the window.
Of course it had just been the classic sound of pebbles on window panes from all the cliche teen movies. I greeted my comrade.
"Jeez Tess!" Kenna laughed.
"On edge much?"
I nervously chuckled.
"Come on, I brought you something." My best friend said as she hopped in the window.
Once inside Kenna presented me with a dream catcher.
Made of woven leather, wood and crystals, the charm was to keep my nightmares at bay, she said.
I hung it on my headboard right away.
We stayed up for a bit chatting. We didn't worry about my mom, who left for a late flight after saying good night to me.
But all things come to an end. Such had my safety.
Kenna left, leaving me with my hopes hanging off a dusty old decoration. She had to get back before her dad noticed.
I tucked myself in again, hoping that the dream catcher would do something.
I was awoken again from my slumber by the same noise.
But slightly different.
This was a scratching sound, the sound of nails on the cold, hard glass. I smiled as I went to the window.
It was still open a crack and I called out into the uncertainty.
"Forget something Kenna?"
The darkness screamed back at me.
My heart thumped wildly in my chest. I shut the window and practically flung myself back in bed.
As one lone car drove by, sending a beam of headlights to my room, I caught a glance of huge glassy eyes.
My breathing quickened as I pulled the sheets over my head.
Just a dream, just a dream, just a dream.
My little mantra echoed in my head. But despite that I still quivered in fear.
I heard a footstep.
And then another.
It sounded deliberately slow; the monster knew I was defenseless.
Just a dream, just a dream, just a-
My phone buzzed under the covers near me.
I checked it.

1:33
Messages
Kenna
Hey, know you're probably asleep but let me know how the dream catcher works!😜

Apparently it had worked. I wasn't having a nightmare .
This. Was. Real.